Job-printing attachment fob postage-meter machines



' A. H. PITNEY JOB PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES G d 59F 1 l A. H. PITNEY JOB'PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINESFiled Oct. 26 1921 Z Shaets-Sheet 2 E 2o I UNITED res-PAT NT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. :PITNEY, or sramronn, comvnorrcur, ASSIGNOR "ro PITNEY-BQWESPOSTAGE METER comrm. or srmronn, oommc'rre'or, noonroaarron or DELAWAREJ' OIB-PRINTIN G ATTACHMENT FOR POSTAGE-METER MACHINES.

Application filed October 26, 1921. Serial No. 510,608.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. PITNEY,- a citizen of the United States,residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Job-Printing Attachments for Postage-Meter Machines; and I hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification. f

This invention is an attachment to be used in connection with meters andmail markin machines of the type shown in Patent dqo. 1,370,668 grantedto me March 8, 1921 and No. 1,377,853 granted to me May 10, 1921. Thesaid patented machines are designed for printing stamps upon envelo esor letters and the like, and are provi ed with meters, or registeringmechanism, whereby the number of stamps applied, or number of effectivestamping o erations of the machine, are recorded: 11 2 said machines themeter carrying the printer and registering mechanism is removable as aunit from, and replaceable in, the machine.

The primary object of .the'present invention is to enhance the utilityof such machines, and render them more serviceable and valuable to theirowners or users, by enabling. such machines to be used for what might betermed 'ob printing, on envelopes, postcards, an the like,-or as a checkendorser, when the machine is not being used for stamping the letters.

In carrying out the invention I provide an attachment for such machineswhich is 40 interchangeable in position with the meter of the machine,so that whenit is not desired to use the machine to stampletters, themeter can be removed and the attachment substituted in its place, andthen the machine can be used to print on letters, cards and the like,such matter as'the owner of. the machinemay wish, within thecapacity ofthe attachment. I a

For example, the attachment will enable the machine to be used forrinting return addresses in the corners of envelopes or cards; to printspecial notices to be enclosed in letters or envelopes"; and for otherlike.

uses; and the attachment will do it efiicienttachment in elevation.v

I ly, neatly and rapidly,-the extent of printmg surface used beinglimited by the type holding capacity or size of the type carrier v ofthe attachment.

The invention includes a removable member, supporting the type carrierand other operative parts which can be placed in the machine in theplace of the meter when the latteris removed, and which is provided withmeans whereby the type carrier will be actuated by the same mechanism ofthe machine which operates the printer of the meter when the latter isproperly positioned in the'machine.

The invention also includes novel means for inking the printing surfaceof the type carrier of such attachment, when the latter is in themachine.

The invention also provides a novel'device for properly positioning theink supply roll for the type carrier of the attachment when the chine. I

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodimentof the invention, as applied to machines of the latter is be applied tothe matype shown in my aforesaid patents,'and an understanding thereofwill enablelothefis n t e to adapt and use the invention. claimsfollowing the description are set forth' the essentials of the inventionand the novel features of construction and novel combinations of partsfor which protection is desired. I

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of part of one of my said patented machines,-showing the novel printing attachments in operative position therein.

Fig. 2 is a front View of Fig. 1.

T Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1, some of the parts being removedtoshow the at- Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail sectional views through theattachment showing different operative parts and connections thereof.

The machine shown in my said patents has means for conveying envelopesand the like from a pilesuccessively past the rotary printer of the baseof the meter, and a (meeting impression membermounted on the frame ofthe machine, whereby the letters are successively printed by the printerand then passed on tothe delivery or stacker.

lit is not necessary herein-to enter into a detailed explanation ofthese parts. lln the said patents-the printer is mounted on the meter sothat it will be operatively positioned adjacent the impression rollerwhen the meter is properl inserted in the machine, and will be wit drawnwith the meter "when the latter is removed from the machine.

In the accompanying drawin s l have illustrated sufiicient parts of saipatented machine to enable others to readily understand and use thepresent invention in connection therewith, and like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

As shown, the said patented machine has a top plate provided withgrooved guides 26 adapted to engage the correspondingly unison with theother operative parts of the machine when the latter is operated and themeter is in position therein. v

The present attachment has a base 31- which substantially corresponds inform to the base of the meter shown in my aforesaid patents, and hasflanges adapted to engage the guide 26 when the attachment is insertedin the machine in the place of the meter and is provided with a notchadapt ed to be engaged by the same catch 150 which is used to lock themeter in place.

Said base 31 is hollow and is closed by a bottom plate 32 like the metershown in said patents.

Supported upon the base 31 by standards 31 is a top plate or bar 32, andjournaled in one end of the base and one end of this top plate 32 is a{shaft 37 on which is keyed a disk 40* (Figs. 4- and 5) having a notch40 adapted to be engaged by a tooth 66 on a lever'66 which is pivoted toa stud 67 in the base. Lever 66 has an opening around the disk 40* andalso has an ear 66 at its end opposite the pivot, adapted to be engagedby a collar on a rod 69 slidably mounted in the base 31 Rod 69 isnormally pushed outward by a spring 68 which also normally swings lever66 into position to cause the tooth 66 to engage the notch 40 in disk40*, and will lock shaft 37 against rotation when the attachment isremoved from the machine substantially as the printer of the meter islooked, as described and shown in my Patent #1,370,668.

When the attachment is slid into operainmatetive p ition in the machine,the pin 69 is pushed inward (by a stud on the machine, as shown anddescribed in my said patent) causing the lever 66 to 'move and disengageits tooth 66 from the notch 40, thus permitting the shaft 37* to berotated.

When the machine is operated, on the lower end of the shaft 37 is'keyeda disk 47 having a diametrically disposed rib 4i? adapted to engage witha diametrical notch 20 in a rotatable member 20 journaled in the base ofthe machine and corresponding to parts similarly lettered in my Patent il-1,370,668 and operated as described there- Before the attachment canbe withdrawn from the machine the slot 20 must be parallel with theguides 26 and it will be held in that position, as described in saidpatent, until the meter, or the attachment is re-inserted in place; andin the present case the latch 66 and notched disk 40" will, when theattachment is removed, from the machine, lock the shaft 37* so that therib 47 will remain in position to correctly engage and connect the shaft37" with the notch 20 when the attachment or meter is ire-inserted, sothat the shaft 37 of the attachment when inserted in place will bedriven exactly as the shaft 37" of the meter will be driven, asdescribed in the patent: the attachment and meter being interchangeablyinsertable in and removable from the machine, either in place of theother.

On the shaft 37 of the attachment is fastened a printing die or printingsurface carrier, or type carrier 38 (which ll shall hereinafterdesignate'as printer, meaning thereby to include any kind of printingsurface or printing surface carrier)this type carrier occupies the placeof the idler 39 shown in my said patent. Below the type carrier an idleroller 39 is loosely mounted on the shaft 37 -in the place 00- cupied bythe printer 39 in said patent, As shown the printer 58 has a printingsurface indicated at- 38 which is curved on an arc corresponding withthe radius of the roller 39 so that it is adapted, to cooperate with theimpression roller 13?, which is located and operated as described in mysaid patent, when the attachment is placed in the machine.

The printing surface of the printer may be of any suitable kind :it maybe formed thereon; or may be formed separately and detachably attachedthereto; or the printer may be constructed in any well known manher tohold interchangeable printing plates, or interchangeable type ;all thesevariations being within the scope of the invention, and the particularconstruction of the printer surface not being an essential part of thepresent invention. ll prefer to use through which a interchangeableelectrotypes but the invention is not limited thereto.

The printer is preferably adjustably mounted on the shaft 37 in anydesired way.. As shown it has a long hub 38 .provided with screwthreaded perforations 38 sunken screw 38 may be passed and engaged witha corresponding threaded recess in the shaft 37 so that the printer canbe adjusted longitudinally of the shaft and also looked against rotarymotion thereon. Any other suitable means may be provided for adjustablymounting the type carrier on shaft 37".

In the machine shown in my said patent an impression roller 137cooperates with the printer of the meter in stamping the letter. Whenthe present invention is used in connection with such machine I simplymake the impression member 137 longer, or raise it so that it willcooperate with the printer 88 'when the attachment is placed in themachine and enable itto print envelopes, cards etc. passed through thema chine, (the front edge of the envelope or card actuating the tripmechanism and in turn the clutch, to which the printing die is attached,as described ent).

The roller 39 shaft 37 and simply cooperates with the opposed portion ofthe impression roller to move the enve opes etc. past the printingpoint.

The machine shown in my said Patent #1,377,853 is provided with aninking roller and inking roller support, which is preferably constructedas shown in my Patent #1,e77,s53.

When the machine is used (with the meter) for stamping letters theletters are passed through the machine upside down, so that the stampsare properly applied by the meter printer to'the envelopes while ininverted position, and thus in my said patent the printer 38 is belowthe idler 39; but in the present attachment the idler 39 is below theprinter 38*, therefore I provide a removable inker for the printer 38which is to be placed in the machine when the attachment is insertedtherein.

As shown this inking mechanism com: prises a slide 127 adapted to beslid into the support 124 and having a stud 127- on the upper end ofwhich is rotatably mounted an inking roller 123 adapted to supply ink tothe printer. To insure the proper positioning ofthe slide 127 in themachine so that the ink roller 123 will properly coact with the printer38* I provide a removable Stop pin 25 which has a socket in its lowerend.

whereby it can be slipped onto the setting pin 25, which is provided inmy patented machine (see Patent #1,377,853).

After the attachment has been slid in my said pat-' is preferably looseon the be positioned in the machine in the same manner andinterchangeably with the meter of such machines, as described in saidpatents; the j ob-printing attachment occupying the place of the meterafter the latter has been withdrawn and vice versa. The inking roller isplaced in the machine in the same manner and in the same position as theinking roller is placed in 'saidmachine as described in said patent, sothat it cooperateswith the printer on the attachment, but the latteroperates upon the envelopes or cards fed through the machine top edgeuppermost; and the stop 25 enables me to accurately position the inkroll for the attachment in the manner described in said patent.

Although the invention is very simple and inexpensive it greatlyenhances the utility of the postage meter machines, such as shown in mysaid patents, and enables such a .machine to beemployed by its owner orrenter for job printing envelopes, cards and the like efficiently andrapidly, when the machine is not being used for stamping mail. Thisnovel attachment practically converts such postage meter machines intorotary job printing presses of limited printing surface capacity but ofgreat speed. Obviously the printing surfaces on the printer can be ofany desired kind, and may be changeable as stated;' and interchangeableinking rollers 123 can be provided so that the job printing can be donein any desired color. This simple invention enables the postage metermachines to perform work which they could not perform without such"attachment.

I have explained the invention as applied to my aforesaid patentedpostage meter machines, but it is obvious that the invention, can bereadily adopted for use in connection with other makes of machines,analogous to mine, use with machines such aforesaid patent.

What I claim is: v

1. For a machine of the character specified having a removable mentinterchangeable with the meter and provided with printing elementssimilar to those of the meter but adapted to print work of a characterdifferent from that of as shown in my and is not restricted to themeter;an atta'ch- (in place of the meter) the moved inward until its pe- I themeter; said attachment being adapted when inserted in the machine to beoperated by the same mechanism thereof which operates the meter,substantially as described.

2. For a machine of the character specified having a removable metercarrying a printer, and an impression roller cooperating with theprinter; of an attachment interchangeable with the meter and providedwith printing elementsv similar to those of the meter but adapted toprint work of a character different from that ofthe meter;

and the meter being interchangeable in the machine, substantially asdescribed.

3. For a machine of the character specified, having a removable meterprovided with a printer, and a removable inker; an attachmentinterchangeable with the meter and provided with printing elementssimilar to those of the meter but adapted to print work of a characterdifi'erent from that of the meter; said attachment being adapted wheninserted in the machine to be operated by the same mechanism whichoperates the printer of the meter; and in inker for the printer of theattachment, interchangeable with the. inker of the meter printer,substantially as described.

4. In a machine as set forth inclaim 3 having a removable inker, asetting pin; and a setting post for the interchangeable 'inker having asocket in one end adapted to tit over the setting pin, substantially asde scribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature.

ARTHUR H. PITNEY.

